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Elly Roberts reviews
Sony/BMG
- Cat.no: 82876805532
- Released: May 2006
- Rating: 8/10
Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon who died 21 April 2003, Nina Simone,a well crafted piano player, adopted her stage name as she gigged in barsaround Atlantic City.
Although considered a high priestess of Soul, in fact she diversified intoJazz, Pop, Blues, Pop and Gospel music with equal finesse and impact. Shestudied piano at the renowned Julliard School, but she would eventually drawinspiration from any source she thought suitable.
Predictably all the biggies are hear tracks 1 (UK no.2 68), 2 (UK no.5 87),3 (UK no.40 94), 4 (UK no.49 65), 20 (UK no.5 69), though its away fromthe hits we hear the full range and measure of her eclectic repertoire.Now considered a standard, Nobodys Fault But Mine written by Simone,shows her thorough understanding of the blues.
Jerry Jeff Walkers Mr.Bojangles is a definite delicate highlight,as is her rendition of the Bee Gees To Love Somebody from 1969.Here she does the self-penned Bob and Marcia 1970 reggae romp YoungGifted And Black, which bares little resemblance to their hit.A cover of Buddy Johnsons Since I Fell For You is possibly the besttrack on the collection.
Only disappointments are tragic covers of Bob Dylans The Times They AreA Changing, George Harrisons Here Comes The Sun and a paceyself-penned Sinnerman.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Aint Got No, I Got Life
2. My Baby Just Cares For me
3. Feeling Good
4. I Put A Spell On You
5. I Loves You Porgy
6. Dont Let Me Be Misunderstood
7. The Look Of Love
8. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free
9. I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl
10. Do I Move
11. Do What You Gotta Do
12. To Be Young , Gifted And Black
13. Since I Fell For You
14. Nobodys Fault But Mine
15. I Think Its Going To Rain Today
16. Sinnerman
17. Times They Are A Changin
18. Mr.Bojangles
19. Here Comes The Sun
20. To Love Somebody
21. Aint Got No, I Got Life (Nina Simone V Groovefinder Remix)
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.